- April 19, 2024
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WINTER GARDEN The upward trajectory of the girls track and field program at West Orange is accelerating just a bit this spring.
Loaded with young talent, the Warriors are gearing up for the Class 4A, Region 1 Championships at Flagler Palm Coast April 27 with a district championship and a share of the Metro West Conference already in tow — the latter of which is a first for the program.
“Around here, to have as young a team as we do, I think it’s pretty unheard of — we’re just so gifted across the board,” head coach Chris Boston said. “From the 800 (meters) down to the field events … we’re pretty loaded.”
The district championship that the Warriors girls track team secured April 13 at Lake Minneola was the program’s fourth in the six years since Boston took over the program. The share of the Metro West Championship West Orange shared with co-champion Evans April 5 is a first, according to Boston.
“Around here, to have as young a team as we do, I think it’s pretty unheard of — we’re just so gifted across the board."
— Chris Boston, coach
Now, the Warriors are looking ahead to possibly winning a regional championship next week and placing in the top 10 in the state in Class 4A.
The secret to the success? Boston said it is an evolving perception of the program from the outside and within.
“I think the mentality — the mindset, especially on the girls side — has changed,” Boston said.
The excitement of Boston and other coaches on his staff extends beyond this immediate season, as well. Beyond seniors who will graduate this spring, Boston said his team will not lose any of its key contributors when Windermere High opens this fall. That means athletes such as Jaela Hollie — the team’s top sprinter — and Amaya Urgarte — who Boston said is one of the most talented freshmen in the state — will be in orange and blue for the next few springs.
Beyond the team’s talented runners, though, is a unit within the team that has a strong chance of bring home some individual gold at state. West Orange’s throwers in the discus and shot put — who swept in district and Metro competition — are ranked among the best in the state. Senior Daija Kiser is ranked first in the state in Class 4A in the shot put and and second in the discus, while sophomore Danielle Ficka is third in the shot put and first in the discus.
“People think it’s just a lot of throwing (at practice), but it’s really a lot of other work that you need to do. … Some people think throwers don’t run — but we run.”
— David Peaco, throwing coach
David Peaco, who has coached the team’s throwers the past few seasons since coming from Olympia High, said the evolution of the throwing program has been the product of a lot of hard work.
“We really work hard,” Peaco said. “People think it’s just a lot of throwing (at practice), but it’s really a lot of other work that you need to do. … Some people think throwers don’t run — but we run.”
Collectively, Boston and Peaco believe the Warriors can contend for a team regional championship — another first for the program — and even a strong finish as a team at state.
“A regional title would be something special,” Boston said. “The way its shaping up now, we definitely could finish top-five in the state.”
Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].
